PJ Dobbins

If you want fades patched in NBA 2K26, here's how we do it, let's trace the problem back to its source: 1. Why are fades overpowered? Isn’t it because the shifty shooter badge allows people to fade too easily? No, a 7'4" build that can't even get shifty shooter is still great at fades, so clearly that's not the reason. 2. So are fades just naturally OP? Not exactly, but you're on to something. 3. Why do fades go in so much? When you fade, you're harder to contest, so the shot is more open. 4. But if they're harder to contest, shouldn't they also be harder to time since you're moving away from the basket? Yes, fades have inherently more difficult timing because of the movement. 5. Then why are people still making them at such high rates? Because rhythm shooting compensates for that difficulty by giving a much larger timing window. 6. If it's really just rhythm shooting, then why do people with button also make fades? That’s a fair question and probably what many people are thinking. This does not mean players using the button will not make tough fades. They will, just like in previous 2Ks. But since button requires much more precise timing, those fades go in at lower rates. A new or inexperienced player wouldn't be able to spam fades like they can with rhythm, it would take a higher level of skill. 7. How does that connect? According to NBA 2KLabs, rhythm shooting roughly doubles the green window compared to shooting without it. That wider timing window affects all shots, but it disproportionately benefits mechanically difficult shots like fades, shots that would otherwise be too hard to consistently green. 8. Why does this matter specifically for fades? Because fades get a double advantage. They're already harder to contest (more open looks), and now the timing difficulty that should balance that out is removed by rhythm shooting's massive timing window. 9. Why can't we just patch fades? Because fades themselves aren't really overpowered, rhythm shooting fades are. Patching fades as a whole would actually hurt balance. Without rhythm, fades behave as intended, they're difficult to time and require real skill to green consistently. The problem is that rhythm shooting removes that difficulty, inflating make percentages for shots that should be hard. So patching fades directly wouldn't fix the issue, it would just punish players who aren't even benefiting from rhythm shooting in the first place. 10. Then what is the problem? The problem is that rhythm shooting's doubled green window makes it too easy to consistently hit shots that were designed to be difficult. Fades are just the most obvious beneficiary because they combine hard to contest shots with what should be punishing timing requirements, but rhythm shooting removes that punishment.